Wildlife Crime Control Bureau
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
Achievements
2017/ certificate of "commendation" by CITES
December 1, 2017: Press Information Bureau
CITES’ certificate to India for efforts in combating illegal wildlife trade
India has been awarded a certificate of commendation for its effort to combat illegal wildlife trade by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said the award was given to the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) under the Ministry on November 30 by the Secretary General of CITES in Geneva. He added that “Operation Save Kurma” was conducted in the country by the WCCB to combat the proliferating illegal trade in live turtles and its parts from the country to destinations abroad. The Minister pointed out that the operation was also aimed to invite attention of the enforcement agencies towards such illegal trade.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan stated that during the ‘Operation Save Kurma’ conducted from December 15, 2016 to January 30, 2017, approximately 16, 000 live turtles/tortoises were seized and released back into the wild. He said that 55 suspects involved in the illegal trade were also arrested. As of December 2017, 183 countries are signatory to the CITES. Mr. Vardhan said the award was given to WCCB for its efforts in conducting and coordinating a species-specific wildlife enforcement operation, codenamed ‘Operation Save Kurma’.
The operation was conducted to combat the proliferating illegal trade of live turtles and its parts from the country to destinations abroad. During the operation conducted from December 15, 2016 to January 30, 2017, approximately 16,000 live turtles and tortoises were seized and released back into the wild.
